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There remains little doubt that 2021 was a year filled with some highs, and some immense lows. Due to the tireless efforts of medical innovators and scientists, safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 saved countless lives in our country, and across the world. Many of us were finally able to spend time with our loved ones and start to resume some of our normal activities. Yet, by year’s end, COVID came back with a vengeance as a new variant emerged.
In Washington, Democrats took control of Congress and the White House. Democrats spent most of the year trying to get their "Build Back Better" bill passed, with no success. Fortunately, Senator Romney and a group of his colleagues were able to craft, and get passed into law, a bipartisan infrastructure bill which will provide an historic investment in our country's physical infrastructure without raising taxes or adding trillions to our debt. The Senator was also able to make some strides in bringing awareness to the rising China threat and advancing Utah priorities in Washington.
Keep scrolling for a recap of Senator Romney's 2021, as told through photos:
Senator Romney thanks members of the Utah National Guard who traveled to Washington in service of protecting our Capitol and our nation following the insurrection on January 6, 2021.
Senator Romney pays his respects to fallen United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died a hero in the line of duty while protecting the Capitol and the lives inside of it on January 6, 2021.
Senator Romney tours the Davis County Health Department's COVID-19 vaccine site to better understand the operation and thank all of the volunteers for helping their fellow Utahns get vaccinated.
Following his tour of Autonomous Solutions in Mendon, where he learned about their work creating robotic technologies and autonomous vehicles, Senator Romney fields questions from employees about U.S. competition with China and current events.
In May, Senator Romney was awarded the JFK Library’s Profile in Courage Award for his consistent defense of the fundamental principles of democratic governance. Senator Romney receives the award from Ambassador Caroline Kennedy at an award reception in the fall. (Photo courtesy of the JFK Library)
In the midst of an historic wildfire season, Senator Romney joins first responders and local officials in Draper to unveil his Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation to establish a commission of federal and non-federal stakeholders to study and recommend fire prevention, mitigation, management, and rehabilitation policies for forests and grasslands. This bill became law with the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
While visiting Payson Fruit Growers, a co-op of family farms, to learn more about the challenges they’re facing—namely labor shortages, current trade practices, and the historic drought—Senator Romney tries his hand at operating the cherry shaker.
After months of negotiation, Senator Romney joins his "G-10" colleagues in celebrating the success of the Senate's first vote on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, bipartisan infrastructure legislation which provides a historic investment in America's infrastructure without raising taxes or adding trillions to the debt.
Senator Romney tours Stadler Rail's facility in Salt Lake City to see their production and discuss ways to ensure our policies support Utah's pro-business climate.
Senator Romney tours Utah Department of Transportation's Traffic Operations Center with Executive Director Carlos Braceras to discuss how the funding provided in the bipartisan infrastructure bill will help Utah expand and improve its physical infrastructure.
Following the 541-acre Parleys Canyon Fire, Senator Romney meets with the Summit County Sheriff and the Parleys Canyon Fire Chief to discuss lessons learned during the well-executed local response and the important wildfire provisions that have since become law with the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
In Moab, Senator Romney and Senator Bennet (D-CO) float down the Colorado River with local leaders to discuss a bipartisan approach to address drought, wildfire, and mudslides in the West.
To commemorate Constitution Day, Senator Romney delivers a speech titled “Our Constitutional Order: Freedom, Responsibility, and Power,” at BYU’s Wheatley Institution.
In a moment of bipartisan fun, Senator Romney delivers biscuits to Senator Sinema (D-AZ) while dressed up as Apple TV's Ted Lasso for Halloween.
Senator Romney shares a laugh with Senator Tester (D-MT) while speaking to a group of rural Utah's chambers of commerce members about how the bipartisan infrastructure bill will help mitigate the burden by funding programs critical to Utah's water resiliency.
At the University of Utah's Veterans Day Commemoration, Senator Romney thanks one of Utah's heroic veterans for his service.
Senator Romney tours Kenworth Sales in West Valley City to learn more about how Utah's diesel and transportation industries have been negatively impacted by record high inflation and supply chain shortages.
Senator Romney meets with a group of high school students visiting Washington from northern Utah to discuss American leadership and responsibility.
Alongside his Senate Republican colleagues at a press conference detailing how the child care provisions in Democrats’ BBB plan would negatively impact child care providers and families, Senator Romney promotes his Family Security Act and calls out Democrats for not working with Republicans on legislation that would affect how America’s children are raised.
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